What Can We Do About Climate Change ?

Planet Earth Needs You!

Our fragile planet is being brought to it's knees by unprecedented levels of human activity. In our drive not just to survive (though for many this is their only goal) but to get the best for ourselves and our children we have unwittingly sown the seeds of change that have already shown some terrible results. Recent studies show that we have already done enough harm to guarantee a rise of 2°C by 2050 and we can already see global warming in action as the polar ice melts at an ever increasing rate.
Most of us have seen the picture of the polar bear on a tiny remnant of a rapidly diminishing icecap. It's easy to identify that that represents what will happen to us all, in different ways, if we continue as we are.

All is not lost (hopefully), as 2006/7 has seen signs that both governments and business are finally getting on side.

There's still plenty to do as individuals, in fact it's only if we personally engage in doing our bit to stop climate change.
For instance:

• Changing a hot cheap'n'nasty lightbulb that lasts 5 minutes for an expensive cool low wattage one that lasts for ages.
• Check out the impact that using a computer has on the environment. Computers are fantastic tools but they can also leave a considerable carbon footprint.
• Recycle your old computer.
• Use your car less and perhaps consider buying a hybrid
• Don't leave the TV / DVD / Hi-Fi etc on standby! Just by turning it off when you've finished using it can save you 10% on your electricity bill and half a tonne of carbon every year.
• Buy food that is local and seasonal. Do you really need your strawberries to be flown in from Spain or your apples from America?
• Turn down the central heating. It's expensive and unhealthy to live in a hot house. Just a couple of degrees cooler will save you money and take a load off the pressure on our planet.
• Plant a tree. Actually you need to plant 10 trees , every year, to offset your own carbon footprint. Did you know you can pay just £12 to have a broad leaf tree planted in the county of your choice and get a certificate from Bill Oddie? Sounds like a great gift idea. Go to the Carbon Footprint Shop

Check out the latest news from :

Friends of the Earth

New Scientist : Special Report on Climate Change

Update! (27/03/2007)
If you run a small to medium business in England,Wales or N.Ireland, you can get an interest free loan (repayable over 4 years) to make your business energy efficient and help reduce the country's carbon footprint. It's called the Amazing Interest Free Energy-Efficiency Loan and is available from The Carbon Trust

To lighten the load, there's cartoon fun with a serious message at hippoworks.

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